Russ Amott gives us his opinion of a Dragon StuG III, this time the last production F series with the L/48 gun. He has a quick look in the box, with a build review to follow shortly.



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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Hi Russ

Hi Russ ,the superstructure of this kit is for an F-8 not a Ausf F. The Ausf f roof over the drivers position is not as step as the Ausf F-8 [ref Muller Zimmerman books on Stug].Therefore without modification there is no way this kit can be called an Ausf F ,sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Have fun Wayne

The above should read as the drivers position is not as steep , instead of as step.Sorry for my bad spelling

Brian, thanks for getting this posted.

Wayne, thanks for the info. From a comment on Missing Lynx, I had the impression that a proper "F" is in the works and this kit really was rushed out to production just to call it the late F version. I'll start the build soon.

I am hoping that when I do the build those with more knowledge of the subject will chime in and provide some guidance as far as what needs to be done, or if the changes are possible.

6644 is a fine Dragon F with winterketten

Sauerteig the big real problem is the type of F you want to do has the sloping plate above the the drivers visor that's on a different angle to the f-8.An Ausf f has these the same as the ausf C/D/E. When i refer to the drivers roof i mean the part that slopes up from the plate the drivers visor is in.To be honest this kit is a complete waste of time, built from box it what you will have is fantasy its neither an f-8 or an f .Tom Cockle commented on ML that they made a mistake by looking at a late F with the L-48 with concrete fill .That's why they gave you two parts to fit in that area with a bit of texture to hide the mistake.And an ausf f with concrete on those two areas will hide the issue so you can build it as an f with an l-48. I think you will find that this pic of a late F with the lack of head lights and concrete fill may be what inspird them https://www.flickr.com/photos/kruegerrossi/17223305865.

Oh and i need to add look at the front view drawings in the muller/zimmerman book and you will see the difference between an f and an f-8 above the drivers position . Hope this helps

Excellent, detailed review, Russ, but as already pointed out, Dragon has released at least one other F/8 in the post-Imperial era.

Here is a bit of info I found about this stug.

Oops, here's the rest. This kit can represent two diff. versions of the last production vehicles. The last 11 or so stug.s built in July 42 had the extra plate welded above the drivers and loaders positions to increase the angle for better protection, but in August the last 20 or so were built with the armor plates above the driver's and loader's positions angled the way they were on the f8 stug. III closing the gap to the top of the fighting compartment, thus one can leave of the extra plates that Dragon have included and build a kit showing the absolute last production batch of the Stug. III F. The origional vehicles manufactured up until the end of July featured the same angle for the armor plates as the previous E stug.s

I care about builds, I care about passion and excitement in a build more. stug III is a good subject to model. Might not be perfect but it's a plastic kit after all. I'm more inspired by everyone's effect then realism tbh.